Notre Dame ReSources - Aug. 1-7, 1999

The following Notre Dame faculty are available for additional comment on these people and events in the news:
p. Watergate : Along with altering America’s political landscape, the resignation of President Nixon 25 years ago (Aug. 9) in the wake of the Watergate investigation brought deep and lasting changes to journalism, says Robert P. Schmuhl , chair and professor of American studies at Notre Dame and director of the Program in Journalism, Democracy and Ethics. In his critically acclaimed book “Statecraft and Stagecraft: American Political Life in the Age of Personality,” Schmuhl writes: “The work of Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward and others who covered the Watergate saga helped create a new ethos in American journalism … The romance of becoming the next Woodward or Bernstein is still alive, making newspeople more aggressive in pursuing figures in the public eye. Post-Watergate journalism is much more adversarial, with reporters always looking for weaknesses and problems.” He adds: “That we so often see the use of the suffix ‘gate’ is just one other small indicator of the continuing impact of Watergate on journalism and on the public mind.” *Professor Schmuhl can be reached at (219) 631-7316 or at schmuhl.1@nd.edu.

p. Millennial movies : The upcoming wave of films with a millennial theme ? from “End of Days” with Arnold Schwarzenegger to the latest James Bond flick “The World is Not Enough” ? is yet another example of moviemakers jumping on a cultural bandwagon, says Randy Rutsky , assistant professor of film, television and theatre at Notre Dame. “Hollywood has loved disasters and apocalypse ? and post-apocalypse ? for a long time now,” he told the South Bend Tribune. “So most of the Hollywood projects don’t seem all that unusual to me. My view is that Hollywood almost never leads on these kinds of issues. They follow what they hope is the gravy train.” Professor Rutsky can be reached at (219) 631-8449.
p. Corporate reputations : At a time when consumers have more choices than ever, it is increasingly important for companies to know how they are perceived by customers on the one hand and vendors on the other, says Suzanne Carter, assistant professor of management at Notre Dame. “One of the things companies have to deal with is how they might maintain or even cultivate those conflicting reputations,” Carter told Tribune Business Weekly. “What I have examined is corporate reputation and the management of corporate reputation. Companies have numerous stakeholders, and their reputations may differ across those stakeholders. It’s always a relative thing. People always see a reputation of a company and compare it to someone else. People think of it as a reputation compared to others. We have so many more choices now because there are so many more companies that offer these choices. Customers are getting used to that.” Professor Carter can be reached at (219) 631-9086.
p. Presidential politics : The electoral reforms of 1968 that attempted to make the presidential selection process more open and democratic through an extended period of state primaries and caucuses have been obliterated in the 1990s by a “headlong rush to be early in the electoral cycle,” creating an “every-state-for-itself obsession,” writes Robert P. Schmuhl , chair and professor of American studies at Notre Dame, in an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune. In order to involve the entire electorate in a methodical, evolving exercise, Schmuhl suggests dividing the country into five, 10-state regions with voting from March through June of a presidential election year. “Of course, no public figure with the slightest ambition of seeking the White House dares risk criticizing Iowa, New Hampshire or the other states rushing to judgment,” Schmuhl says. “But it’s high time to end this current war between the states over nomination of presidential candidates. When will we the people look beyond the pricey posturing and telegenic theatrics of the current electoral madness and demand a process that’s genuinely representative and democratic?” *Professor Schmuhl can be reached at (219) 631-7316 or at schmuhl.1@nd.edu.

p. World War II : A new book written by Bernard Norling , professor emeritus of history at Notre Dame, focuses on the little-known bands of guerrillas that roamed the Philippine Islands during World War II. “The Intrepid Guerrillas of North Luzon” chronicles the activities of the largest of these groups, all of which gathered information for the U.S. commander of the Pacific, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. It is Norling’s fourth book on Pacific Theater veterans. “All of these books deal with men who were successful in the war,” Norling told the South Bend Tribune. “They saved lives and came out heroes. This book deals with eight or 10 smaller outfits in one of the most isolated parts of the world, even for the Philippines.” The books provide the history of a “small, minor aspect of World War II,” Norling says, “and they add quite a lot of detail to things that are passed over with a sentence in broader histories. I wrote all of these as serious history books and not just as adventure tales.” Professor Norling can be reached at (219) 631-6622. p. Life-long health : A new book coedited by Notre Dame psychology instructor Sally Coleman and published by Notre Dame Press provides a framework for holistic health, as well as practical advice in the form of “legacy letters” from more than 50 national and international leaders. “Charting Your Course: A Life-Long Guide to Health and Compassion” is designed primarily for young adults but will assist people of all ages in their efforts to live rewarding, fulfilling and healthy lives. The book is based on seven life-health principles – attitude, personal values, wellness, relationships, community, the natural world, and service to others. The writers of “legacy letters” were challenged to summarize the most important advice they could give to young adults. Among the participants were Notre Dame’s president emeritus, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Elie Wiesel, Jane Alexander, and Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. *For more information, contact Julie Dudrick at (219) 631-6346 or at dudrick.2@nd.edu. . To contact Sally Coleman, call (219) 631-7336.

p. Boys and girls : A new study by Notre Dame psychologist David Cole indicates that boys tend to overestimate their performance in school and girls tend to underestimate their own skills. The three-year study of 800 third- and sixth-grade students found the gap begins around the fourth grade and increases with each grade level. Cole found that boys are more likely to attribute their failures to bad luck, the difficulty of the task, or not trying hard enough. Girls, on the other hand, may be more likely to attribute their failures to a perception of low ability. Cole’s advice to parents and teachers is to “maintain high expectations for women …. We do them a disservice by expecting less of them.” Professor Cole can be reached for further comment at (219) 631-6165 .p. International business : A new book edited by Georges Enderle , Arthur and Mary O’Neil Professor of International Business Ethics at Notre Dame, examines the complexities of business ethics on a global scale. “International Business Ethics: Challenges and Approaches,” published by Notre Dame Press, includes the work of 39 contributors who explore topics such as the need for a differentiated economic analysis beyond simple profit maximization; the active participation of the world’s religions in coping with global business issues; information technology in different cultures; and the roles and responsibilities of transnational corporations. For more information, contact Professor Enderle at (219) 631-5595. To receive a copy of the book, contact Julie Dudrick at Notre Dame Press at (219) 631-6346 .